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Lumsden ponders career options
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By DAN RALPH
Friday, August 26, 2005 Page
S6
Canadian Press
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<DIV ="big ad">Jesse Lumsden is now playing a waiting game.
The former McMaster University star running back is in British Columbia this week, getting over the disappointment of being released by the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.
Lumsden's father, Neil, said yesterday his son is taking a few days to mull over his football options.
"I know he needs a few days by himself and he's taking that now," the elder Lumsden said. "The thing is there are a lot of options for him and there might be some great ones.
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"There may be some in the NFL with teams that showed an interest before [Lumsden signed with Seattle] that might still have an interest. It's being patient for a few days to see what happens.
"He doesn't have to rush to do anything right now. He needs to get his head back to where it was before and he will."
Lumsden won the Hec Crighton Trophy last year as Canada's outstanding university player after rushing for 1,816 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns in his final year at McMaster. After being bypassed in the NFL draft, Lumsden signed as a free agent with Seattle.
That didn't deter the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who selected Lumsden in the first round (sixth overall) of the Canadian Football League's college draft after he signed with Seattle.
Lumsden quickly settled in Seattle, attending the club's off-season workouts as well as three mini-camps before reporting for the start of training camp last month.
Despite that, though, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound native of Burlington, Ont., faced long odds with Seattle, which brought nine running backs into camp. Included was starting tailback Shaun Alexander, fullback Mack Strong, Maurice Morris and Toronto native Kerry Carter.
As an undrafted free agent, Lumsden was in the unenviable situation of having to impress the Seahawks brass while having limited repetitions in camp.
Compounding matters was Lumsden, 23, missing about two weeks with a hip injury sustained in a scrimmage when he was dragged down from behind by a defensive lineman. Several observers said it looked similar to the tackle that broke Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens's ankle last year.
The timing of the injury was bad because at the time key members of Seattle's running back corps were hurting. Alexander wasn't on the field because of a hamstring problem, while main backup Morris was also battling a wonky hamstring.
So that meant the door was open for a player like Lumsden to get more reps and more opportunities to impress, just like he did at the 2005 East-West Shrine Bowl. Lumsden got into that college all-star game in the second half, rushing eight times for 41 yards, including a 21-yard scamper, to emerge as the East's leading rusher in their 45-27 victory.
Still, Lumsden recovered and was in uniform Monday night for Seattle's 18-10 exhibition loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Earlier that day, Neil Lumsden said Seahawks officials assured his son that he would see some game action, but he spent the entire contest on the sidelines. The next day, he was released.
"He didn't get a carry in a preseason game and the question I have is, then how do you know?" Neil Lumsden said. "I was at the game and when I didn't see him on special teams and a couple other things, I wasn't feeling really good about it.
"What's sticking in Jesse's craw, more than anything, is getting back, being told Monday that he was going to play and get a chance and he stands on the sidelines and never gets a sniff," he said.
Jesse Lumsden can pursue opportunities in the NFL safe in the knowledge that at least he has a place to land in Hamilton. And while the Tiger-Cats are struggling (0-8), head coach Greg Marshall, who coached Lumsden for four years at McMaster, says he wants what's best for the player.
"I'm disappointed for Jesse, I'd like to see him get a shot," Marshall said. "I've known him for a long time and am a friend of the family.
"But I'm also coach of the Tiger-Cats and I see it as a chance for him here."
